Selectmen want to give residents advance warning of road closing

Selectmen have given Wachusett Greenways until May 10 to provide the board with information regarding the group’s project to put a tunnel under Route 56 to connect two sections of the rail trail.

Monday night, select board chair Sheila Dibb said the board needs confirmation of a project bond for the construction, total construction cost, schedule of work and engineering plans including the tunnel.

Highway superintendent Gary Kellaher said he hasn’t seen the full specifications for the tunnel.

“That’s my biggest concern,” he said. “Engineers for the town have looked at them and are happy with them, but that part of the project is probably what scares me the most. If a professional engineer stamps the plans I’ll be satisfied with that, but I still want Cullinan Engineering to look it over.”

According to town counsel a formal public hearing isn’t necessary, said selectman Joe Becker.

“It doesn’t seem right the whole town will be affected by a road closure and they don’t have any say,” said Leroy “Skip” Clark.

“That’s why we want a construction schedule so we can let people that travel the road know well in advance of the road closing,” Becker said. “There can’t be enough time in advance to let people know this.”

The board agreed to hold a public informational session on the road closure on June 2.

According to Dibb, the people most affected will be those on Brunelle and the two Gengel properties.

“It will affect a lot more people than that,” said fire chief Thomas Ruchala. “It makes a huge difference to the fire department. We’ll have to figure out the roads to get to North Rutland. I haven’t heard a word from Wachusett Greenways. We have to have coverage on the other side of the road and need to get police and fire vehicles there.”

Selectmen asked highway, police and fire officials to meet with Wachusett Greenways and get the information they need before selectmen hold a public informational session on the project.

Clark asked to be included when the public safety people meet with Wachusett Greenways.

“The project is supposed to start July 5, and be complete before school starts,” said Kellaher. “It’s a six week project.”

“They need to get on the ball,” said Becker.

Kellaher said he will have signs made warning motorists of the road closure and put them up as soon as possible.

“If we’re putting traffic down Brintnal and Sassawanna and we have an ambulance call, that’s a narrow road,” said Ruchala.